Footwear



Patented Mar. 6, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I asm-:ss i

FOOTWEAR Bernard Glagovsky, Haverhill, Mass., assignor to I Haverhill Shoe Novelty Company, Haverhill, Massi, a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 19, 1942, Serial No. 466,091

' (oise-19.5)

5Claims.

This invention pertains to footwear and relates more particularly to an improved edge nnish for shoes or the like and to shoes provided with ,such an edge finish. j

In the so-called -platform type shoe, the bottom structure is made abnormally thick as compared with usual practice in shoes of the same general style and grade. In consequence. the ex.. posed edge of the sole is very thick. When, in accordance with one usual practice, the abnormal thickness of the bottom structure is due to the interposition of a relatively soft yielding pad for example of felt between the inner.l and outer soles, it becomes necessary to conceal or disguise the edge of this fibrous pad in such a way as to provide an .edge finish acceptable to the trade. One common practice is to bind the edge of the pad with grosgrain textile fabric or ribbon before assembling the middle s'ole with the lasted inner sole and upper. While such a binding of textile fabric does conceal the pad from view, it does not at all resemble conventional sole edges: it

does not prevent seepage of moisture into the porous padding; it has little strength to resist abrasion, nd it is very easily soiled and difficult to clean.

The present invention provides means whereby the above defects are cured and the appearance and wearing qualities of the shoe greatly en..

hanced.

These and other advantages and objects ofthe invention will be made apparent in the following more detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawing wherein Fig. l is a perspective view of a shoe embodying the present invention:

Fig.2 is a vertical section to large scale in a plane transverse` of the shoe at the forepart of the latter; and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a length of improved binding material useful in making the shoe illustrated inFigs. 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawing the numeral I designates the shoe as a whole. This shoe comprises the upper 2, the heel 3 and the outer sole I. Referring to Fig. 2, the upper 2 is shown as lasted over the marginal portion of the insole I (or sock lining" as it is sometimes called in this type of shoe) and secured to the latter by. fasteners l, it being understood that any desired form of connection between the inner sole and upper may be employed. 'I'he middle sole" comprises a thick pad l of suitable material, for example felt, and a binding which embraces the margin of the pad l. This binding, in accordance with the present pumptype inventioncomprises a length of textile fabric, here illustrated as grosgrainribbon 8* (Fig. 3)

having distinct ribs 1 extending transversely of its .width and having selvages at l, although it is contemplated that any other suitable soft and flexible material of proper appearance, for in-I stance soft leather, or artificial leather may bev employed for the purpose. This ribbon E is of a width such that when it is vextended along the edges of the pad t its margins may be caused to overlap the upper and lower surfaces of the pad, preferably to a substantial .distance inwardly from the edge of the pad.

In accordance with the presentinvention, a bead strip 8 is associated with this ribbon 6a before the latter is applied to the pad. This bead strip 8 is preferably of a material which is substantially impervious to moisture and which is relatively hard and resistant to scratches or abrasion. On the other hand it must be tough enough to withstand blows without fracture, and to some degree ilexible so that it may be caused to follow the curved contour of the edge oi the pad 6. Among the materials best suited for this purpose so far as I am at present advised are certain of the synthetic resins capable of extrusion moulding and including those of the cellulose-derivative, vinylite and acrylic acid types. However, for ease in providing a great variety of ornamental eifects, resins are to be preferred which may ybe made completely transparent, or which may have any desired tint or color imparted to them, while at the same time, if desired, leaving them transparent.

This bead strip 8 is preferably made of a width approximately that of the exposed edge of the pad l in the completed shoe, although if desired it may be made slightly less in width. Preferably, as best illustratedy in Fig. 2, this bead strip 8 comprises marginal lobes 9 of curved contour and constituting the maximum thickness of the bead strip, and between these lobes is a channel Il where the substance of the pad is much reduced in thickness and which is designed to receive fastener elements,` for example sewing stitches Il, by means of which the bead strip is permanently secured to the ribbon 8*. Preferably, as shown in Fig. 3 the bead strip is arranged centrally between the selvaged edges l* of the ribbon.

Il and secured to the latter, for example by means margins of the yieldable pad 6, with the resultthat that portion of the ribbon 8 which overlies the upper corner of the pad may be forced out as shown at i3 to form a distinct bead-like structure, imparting to the shoe the appearance of having a French-cord or the like between the upper and the bead strip 8. However, if the bead strip 8 be of sudicient width, such strip itself may, in the process of uniting the parts be brought into direct contact with the shoe upper. After the middle sole has thus been secured to the lasted upper and insole, the outer sole Il is secured, in place by means of adhesive or otherwise in accordance with whatever procedure may be preferred by the shoe manufacturer.

Since the bead strip 8 is impervious to moisture and covers the major part or all of the exposed edge of the middle sole, it retards, if not actually preventing, the entrance of moisture into the marginal portions of the pad, thus greatly reducing the injurious effects resultant from the absorption of moisture by the middle sole. Furthermore, since the binding strip (ia is substantially covered by this bead strip 8, and since the bead strip is relatively hard, very tough, resistant to moisture and preferably highly polished,

the binding ribbon 6 is protected from direct abrasion and from dirt and thus a far more permanent edge finish is provided than in accordance with prior practice. Moreover, by giving to the bead strip 8 an appropriate cross-sectional contour, for example such as herein illustrated, it is possible to impart to the finished shoe an appearance closely simulating that of the usual beaded and burnished edge commonly provided on a leather outer sole. If this bead strip be transparent, the transverse ribs and characteristie color of the binding ribbon may'be seen through it, thus adding to the ornamental effect,

- whichmay be further enhanced by selecting a bead strip of a color which harmonizes or contrasts with the material of the shoe upper.

While one desirable embodiment ofthe present invention has been illustrated herein by way of example, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to this precise embodiment but is broadly inclusive of all modiflcations and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A shoe of the platform type comprising an inner sole, an outer sole and a middle sole, the latter having a marginal bead of polished synthetic resin, said bead being thickest near lts edges and having a longitudinally extending groove. andvfastener elements within said groove uniting the bead to other parts of the middle sole. 2. In combination, in a shoe of the platform type having an inner sole, an outer sole, a middle sole, and a, binding of soft flexible material covering the edge of the middle sole, a protective bead secured to said binding and concealing the mid-portion at least of that part of the binding which covers the edge of the middle sole, said protective bead being of hard, tough, moisture-resistant material having marginal lobes which, in transverse section, are of curved contour and which constitute the thickest portions of the bead, and a longitudinally extending channel between said lobes, where the substance of the bead is of minimum thickness, which receives fastener elements which unite the bead to the binding.

3. In combination in a shoe having an inner sole, an outer sole, a middle sole comprising a cushion pad, and a binding of soft flexible material covering the edge of the pad, a protective bead of hard, tough, moisture-impervious, and scratch-resistant material extending along the edge of said pad, said bead being of a widthapproximating the thickness of the exposed edge of the pad and being operative to resist the entrance of moisture into the marginal portion of the pad, the bead having marginal ribs separated by a longitudinally extending channel, the material of the bead within the channel being thin relatively to the thickness of the ribs, and sewing stitches passing through the bead within the channel and uniting the bead to the binding.

4. A shoe of the platform type comprising an inner sole, an outer sole, a middle sole having a marginal binding ribbon, and a protective bead of relatively hard, abrasion-resistant material overlying that portion of the binding ribbon which would otherwise be -exposed at the edge of the middle sole, the binding ribbon forming a beadlike structure between the upper edge of said protective bead and the upper of the shoe, the beadbeing thickest near its edges and having a longitudinally extending groove, and fastener elements within said groove uniting the bead to other parts of the middle sole.

` 5. A shoe of the platform type having a middle sole and a marginal binding for the middle sole, characterized in that said marginal binding comprises a length of grosgrain textile fabric whose margins lap over at the upper and lower surfaces of the middle sole, and a bead strip extending lengthwise of said length of fabric substantially midway between the edges of the latter, said bead strip consisting of transparent synthetic resin and being thickest near its edges and having a longitudinally extending groove, and fastener elements within said groove uniting the bead to the textile fabric.

BERNARD GLAGOVSKY. 

